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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2009
STUDENT LIFE
Study abroad within reach despite economy
BY HANNAH DECLERK hdeclerk@kansan.com
Fewer students were studying abroad this summer in the wake of the economy, but administrators from the Office of Study Abroad and past
participants said there were ways to make it more affordable.
Summer study abroad programs at the University had 25 fewer participants this summer than last. Kansas State University had 28 fewer students and Washburn University had
60 fewer students. But Sue Lorenz, director of the OSA, said the state of the economy shouldnt keep students from studying abroad.
"Studying abroad does not always cost as much as you think," Lorenz said. "It all depends on where you go. Some countries may be more expensive than others. Programs are offered in different countries depending on the students' willingness to pay."
a day and he rarely had to pay for food on his own.
"Living abroad could be less than living in Lawrence, depending on where you go," Dunlap said. "Living with my host family gave me a great bang for my buck, but regardless, Costa Rica is a cheap country."
"I try to be super cheap when it comes to food," Smithson said. "When I'm out, I opt for bread and cheese, or a croissant and Nutella. They are served at most restaurants, cafes or grocery stores and are delicious and cheap."
Other students, such as Conner Hindrecks, Lawrence senior, chose to study abroad in a more expensive country. Hindrecks, who studied in Japan last summer, lived in a dormitory and said he had to take care of meals on his own. He said he thought living with a host family would have cut down on his costs considerably.
Smithson said she also kept a good record of what she spent.
Past study abroad participants agreed with Lorenz and said they found ways to make studying abroad more economical.
Matt Dunlap, Horton senior, studied six months in Costa Rica and lived with a host family. The host family provided him with three meals
Eliza Smithson, Shawnee junior. studied in Ireland over the summer.
"I have a big excel spreadsheet where I've broken down all my estimated costs, ground transportation, flights, food, souvenirs, phone costs, etc." Smithson said. "Every time I spend money, I save the receipt or make a quick note of it. When I get home I simply type it into the spreadsheet and I can track how much I am spending. I am able to see how much I've spent each week, how much I've spent overall, and how I need to plan for the future."
Regardless of the situation, Lorenz said she and other administrators still had faith in study abroad programs.
"I do not think KU will ever move away from the international experience. The University will work really hard to keep it that way," Lorenz said. "Students need to realize that they can have a meaningful experience for much cheaper than they think."
Edited by Dylan Sands
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